U of Minnesota fires competitive blast with new med devices center

The University of Minnesota this week unveiled a new $2.3 million state-of-the-art medical devices center in Minneapolis designed to help the state remain one of the leading industry incubators. The Star Tribune reports that the 8,000-square-foot-facility replaces a much smaller one that was only 5 years old--a sign of how quickly competition in the academic research space is evolving. The new space includes labs focused on 3-D virtual design, X-ray and imaging, anatomy and prototype manufacturing (backed in part by a 3-D printer). It won't all be about academics, either. University officials plan to use the center as an enticement to form global partnerships with engineers, scientists and major corporations. Story